Not all indigenous peoples ritualized the winter solstice with a ceremony. It is an astronomical event caused by the tilt of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun. The returning sunlight is "invited in" with many symbols: Trees and evergreens, a variety of fires, candles, logs; and always singing and dancing. Yule Traditions: Mistletoe. A small but colourful celebration takes place on the archipelago of Mauritius. Mauritius has a numerous Hindu community and they dedicate the last days in January to a series of religious ceremonies and blessings. Celebrate the winter solstice and its warm traditions with a concert of original and traditional acoustic music from award-winning Windham Hill artists. They passed their knowledge down to successive generations through complex stories and ritual practices. The winter solstice is the day of the year when the Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of sunlight and the Southern Hemisphere has the most. The dances held at the time of the solstice were moved to Christmas Day or to New Year’s Eve. But what is shared with the public is near the end of the ceremony, when six Zuni men dress up and embody the spirit of giant bird deities. There are numerous festivals in Africa celebrating this evens, the most popular being the Timket Festival in Ethiopia. While Christmas is celebrated in most of the African countries, one has to acknowledge that a considerable part of Africans are of Muslim faith. When the sun falls, the sunlight right passes through the gap between the certain two stones, which only happens on that day. Join the Goddess Full Moon Group for a celebration and discussion of the African Creatrix Goddess Mawu for Winter Solstice. Zuni Pueblo is a contemporary example of indigenous people with an agricultural society in western New Mexico. Winter Solstice is a time of renewal and rebirth and on the 21st of December, Karnak Temple in Luxor aligns with the sun and illuminates the temple - one of the most important events of the Egyptian calendar. Its opposite is the summer solstice. Also known as “Shab-e Yalda,” this is the ancient Persian Winter Solstice celebration, which … For indigenous peoples, it has been a time to honor their ancient sun deity. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 123,400 academics and researchers from 3,949 institutions. The Epiphany Day is another important holiday for the Christian world. Discover the science of why it happens, its ancient pagan traditions and a delightful skytime bonus for 2020. By Deena Wade . At day's end on the winter solstice, the sun glows like a … They rarely held large religious gatherings in the winter. First Fruits. Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, The University of Montana. South of the equator, the height of winter hits in June and July. Kwanzaa, which takes place from December 21 to January 1, is a cultural holiday that celebrates African heritage. Winter Solstice Traditions: Rituals for a Simple Celebration This year, let your winter solstice celebration be an occasion to look deeply at small things, to feel at home in the world and to be just where you belong. On the last day of the journey we will experience the historic Solar alignment at Karnak Temple. The days for the celebration are selected by the religious leaders. Winter Solstice Rituals – December 21, 2019. These days, religious observance of the winter solstice are not as common as it once was. These men carry the Zuni prayers for rain “to all the corners of the earth.” The Zuni deities are believed to provide “blessings” and “balance” for the coming seasons and agricultural year. At this time in the Northern Hemisphere we are experiencing the longest and darkest nights of the year and the shortest days with the least amount of daylight. All the Winter Solstice symbols are a reminder that the sun is eternal, the cycle is renewing, and so are you. They give thanks and feast on the fruits of the season’s harvest. They grow corn, beans, squash, sunflowers and more. It is customary for families to attend the mass and sing specific hymns on the Christmas day, and in some places they might even decorate a small palm and use it as a Christmas tree. Each year they hold annual harvest festivals and numerous religious ceremonies, including at the winter solstice. According to the Chinese, Yang symbolizes the positive, and Yin is negative. Winter solstice traditions: Dong Zhi, China. At the Winter Solstice we reach the depth of that darkness with the longest night of the year. However, it's believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21/December 22, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. She remembered that each community held their own gatherings, with unique drumming, singing and dance styles. Winter solstice 2020, the shortest day of year and the official start of winter, is on Monday, December 21. While many traditions are ancient, they are still being celebrated today by cultures around the world. Instead the Blackfeet viewed the time of the winter solstice as a time for games and community dances. There are even winter holidays for the nonserious: Festivus , a holiday that originated in a joke on the TV show Seinfeld , has emerged as a celebrated observance with followers who are cynical about more traditional holiday traditions. Like everywhere in the world, winter time is celebration time in Africa, especially around the winter solstice (22nd of December). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. They marked the time of the winter solstice and the “return” of the sun or “Naatosi” on its annual journey. For decades, scholars have studied the astronomical observations that ancient indigenous people made and sought to understand their meaning. Soaking in baths full of fruit in Japan. Modern Times. Scientists have speculated that the Cahokia held rituals to honor the sun as a giver of life and for the new agricultural year. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere. On the day of winter solstice, many Native American communities will hold religious ceremonies or community events. At the time of the winter solstice they hold a multiday celebration, known as the Shalako festival. Scholars believe that ancient indigenous societies observed the solar system carefully and wove that knowledge into their architecture. Rosalyn R. LaPier does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. At the time of the solstice, Hopi welcome protective spirits from the mountains, known as kachinas. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t find other ways to celebrate. Thus, the New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the 12 th of January – when people invite their friends in for a festive dinner with aromatic chicken and couscous. Later, in my own research, I learned that the Blackfeet moved their dances and ceremonies during the early reservation years from times on their religious calendar to times acceptable to the U.S. government. Kwanzaa, a celebration of African American and pan-African culture and community based on Zulu and Ashanti harvest festivals, is situated during the festive midwinter weeks. The big difference about the African Christmas is that unlike in USA or Europe where the earth is covered in ice and snow, December is the first month of summer in the Southern part of Africa, so people try to enjoy the warm weather as well. In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. Eid Al Adha is an important holiday in the Islamic world, when people remember the importance of faith in their lives. This year it will be on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 at 4:44 a.m. central time. At this time, the sun appears over the Tropic of Capricorn, roughly 23.5 degrees South of the earth's equator. is a Chinese festival that celebrates the arrival of the Winter Solstice, and is related to the philosophy of Yin and Yang. So, when African people decorate trees during this period, they are sending regards to ancient times when Ra’s birthday was celebrated. Among their constructions, what most stands out is an intriguing structure made up of wooden posts arranged in a circle, known today as “Woodhenge.”. Yule/Winter Solstice December 21st. 2019 December Holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice Dates; Last Full Moon of the Decade Will Fall on 12/12 at 12:12 A.M. EST They also found that the sun aligns with a different temple mound on summer solstice. Winter solstice is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. Not to mention the numerous tribes and their interesting ceremonies dedicated to the winter season. Christians then continued the tradition of holly as a winter holiday decoration. Mistletoe, which represents the female element, also holds much importance as it was used by Druid priests in special ceremonies during the Winter Solstice. As a child, my grandmother enjoyed attending community dances at the time of the winter solstice. Winter solstice 2020: The shortest day is long on ancient pagan traditions For six months, the days have grown shorter and the nights have grown longer in the Northern Hemisphere. An interesting practice associated with this event is that of piercing. Archaeological evidence suggests that the people of Cahokia venerated the sun as a deity. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards; the days began to have more dayli… The Blackfeet tribe in Montana, where I am a member, historically kept a calendar of astronomical events. In Cahokia, indigenous people built numerous temple pyramids or mounds, similar to the structures built by the Aztecs in Mexico, over a thousand years ago. At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. What is the solstice? Make it the deep jungles o... Africa is for certain not a first option when it comes to luxury travel – with its deep jungles, huge deserts and thir... Africa stands for wilderness, safaris, jungles, the Sahara desert and adventure. A pair of adult capybara and three babies take a yuzu-yu, or a … The winter solstice, hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. According to Traditional Festivals, Inti Raymi, a winter solstice festival that recalls the traditions of the Inca Empire, is generally held throughout South America's mountainous Andean region on June 24.In ancient times, Inti Raymi was a harvest festival held to honor the sun god, Inti, during the solstice. Thus, the New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the 12th of January – when people invite their friends in for a festive dinner with aromatic chicken and couscous. As we all know very well, the story had a happy ending, as God allowed Abraham to sacrifice a lamb instead. Winter Solstice Concerts. Brandi and I will both be traveling at Full Moon so we will gather just in time for the Solstice! As a scholar of the environmental and Native American religion, I believe, there is much to learn from ancient religious practices. The Zulu people of Africa celebrate the solstice as a harvest festival. You have to know that Africa is an extremely diverse continent so different people will have different traditions and celebrations in winter. The Stonehenge in England, was built between 3000 BC and 2000 BC and is known for its Winter Solstice traditions a. 896 likes. This thousands-of-years-old festival on December 21, 22, or 23 is celebrated with family gatherings and a … It is also considered the celebration of the winter solstice in some countries. Yalda. They believed that its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess, and its white berries, the seed of the Forest God or Oak King. However, winter solstice is still celebrated by many. Celebrating the African Goddess Mawu for Winter Solstice. The Amazigh people of Mahbgreb, or the berbers, follow, unlike other parts of Africa, the so-called Julian Calendar. During this time, prayer sticks are often crafted and used for blessings and various rituals. Today, my family still spends the darkest days of winter playing card games and attending the local community dances, much like my grandmother did. The origin of this holiday is the Biblical story of Isaac and Abraham, in which Abraham was asked by God/Allah to sacrifice his only son as a sign of faith. How it all works has fascinated people for thousands of years. At the time of the winter solstice they hold a multiday celebration, known as the Shalako festival. To understand the purpose of Woodhenge, scientists watched the sun rise from this structure on winter solstice. Dongzhi Festival. What they found was telling: The sun aligned with both Woodhenge and the top of a temple mound – a temple built on top of a pyramid with a flat top – in the distance. The tradition of celebrating Winter Solstice is rich with symbolism and dates back hundreds of thousands of years. Another popular holiday in the Muslim word is Amazigh New Year. Darkness has reached its peak. One such place was at Cahokia, near the Mississippi River in what is now Illinois across from St. Louis. Learn about unique traditions, celebrations, and holidays that occur around the world during December and January. When it comes to experiencing unabridged wilderness, the African continent has no equivalent. The days for the celebration are selected by the religious leaders. The Amazigh people of Mahbgreb, or the berbers, follow, unlike other parts of Africa, the so-called Julian Calendar. This year the winter solstice falls on Thursday 21 June 2018 in South Africa. You’ll need love, joy, passion, good friends, a soft place to land, magic and the ability to recognize it. Also the T They also faced their tipis – or portable conical tents – east toward the rising sun. The Zuni are intensely private, and most events are not for public viewing. The following are among the most popular and widely celebrated winter holidays and traditions in Africa: Christmas in Africa is celebrated in a manner similar to the western countries: Christmas means carols, presents, family gatherings and joy. Or as the Zuni Pueblo’s rituals for all peoples of the earth demonstrate – of an ancient understanding of the interconnectedness of the world. You’ll need a thick skin to weather the worst of the world and a tender heart to receive the best of it. The history of the winter solstice and its traditions are both past and present. In many African countries, it symbolizes the birth of African God Ra (Osiris). There is evidence that humans observed the Winter Solstice as early as the Neolithic period—the last part of the stone age, beginning in about 10,200 BC. At Samhain we honour, celebrate and welcome the descent into, and return of, the dark - the beginning of the New Year, acknowledging that all beginnings emerge from darkness. People dress up and gather in Stonehenge to welcome the latest dawn and sunrise of the year. So today people of Muslim faith sacrifice a lamb in remembrance of this day and share its meat with families or the less fortunate. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WINTER SOLSTICE? Copyright © 2010–2021, Academic Journalism Society, Clip from ‘Cahokia’s Celestial Calendar (Woodhenge)’ episode of PBS’ ‘Native America.’. Christian symbolism holds the red berries to represent Christ’s blood and the thorns to represent his crown during the crucifixion. Winter Solstice 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere will be at 5:02am Eastern Standard time and 11:02am Central European time on Monday, December 21, marking the first day of winter. The sun is a symbol of our interconnectedness. Although some winter solstice traditions have changed over time, they are still a reminder of indigenous peoples understanding of the intricate workings of the solar system. Collage by Chani. Fun Facts about African Christmas Traditions This is the day when the divine origin of baby Jesus was revealed, and therefore a great reason for joy and celebration. As religion scholar Tisa Wenger writes, “The Zuni believe their ceremonies are necessary not just for the well-being of the tribe but for "the entire world.”. The winter solstice is approaching.
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